Engine mounting stand



Jan. 16, 1962 J. w. BREED ENGINE MOUNTING STAND 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledFeb. 10, 1958 INVENTOR.

JOHN W. BRA-0 BY 6% a 2% 97' 7" ORA/6' VJ Jan. 16, 1962 w, BREED ENGINEMOUNTING STAND 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 10, 1958 IN VENTOR.

JOHN PV. 81956 0 6W4, 4: PW

HTTORNEVS Jan. 16', 1962 J. w. BREED ENGINE MOUNTING STAND 5Sheets-Sheet 3 JO/l/V w. BMW:

L? on 5 aM/A H T7'ORN6HS Filed Feb. 10, 1958 Jan. 16, 1962 J. w. BREED3,0

ENGINE MOUNTING STAND Filed Feb. 10, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

JOHN M BREED HTTOR/VAVS Jan. 16, w, BREE ENGINE MOUNTING STAND 5Sheets-Sheet 5- Filed Feb. 10, 1958 INVENTOR.

JO/IN PV. 8/?56'0 3,tl17,i76 ENGINE MOUNTWG STAND John W. Breed,Jackson, Mich, assignor to Kent-Moore Organization, Inc, Warren, Mich, acorporation of Michigan Filed Feb. 10, 1958, Ser. No. 714,261 4 Claims.(til. 269185) This invention relates to an improved engine mountingstand.

An object is to provide an improved engine mounting stand upon which aninternal combustion engine, such as is used in motor vehicles, may beremovably supported for movement to adjusted positions at which one ormore mechanics may find it convenient .to work on the engine.

A further object is the provision of a stand of the character set forthwhich is adaptable to receive and support different makes of engines. Itis also adapted to be readily and easily shifted to position an enginesupported thereon at different angular positions for the convenience ofworking upon the engine by one or more mechanics.

Another object is the provision of an engine mounting stand of thecharacter described wherein simple hydraulic jack mechanism is socoupled with the engine-supporting platform of the mounting stand as toeasily and readily swing the platform to different angular positions.

A meritorious feature of this improved jack mechanism and its connectionwith the engine-supporting platform of the stand is that theconstruction is such that the weight of the engine itself upon theplatform, acting through gravity, is employed to move the platform inthe opposite direction to that through which it is moved by thehydraulic jack.

Another object is the provision of an engine-mounting stand ashereinabove described provided with an enginesupporting platform uponwhich an engine may be mounted, which platform, in addition to beingangularly adjustable, may be rotated to different positions to renderthe engine mounted thereon most accessible for the workman.

A meritorious feature of my engine-mounting stand is that the rotatableplatform upon which the engine is mounted is capable of being rotated todifferent positions of rotation only when the platform is disposed inthe horizontal position or sufficiently close thereto that there is nodanger of the platform being unintentionally rotated by gravity actingthereon. Such unintentional rotation of the engine-supporting platformcarrying an engine might, because of the heavy weight of the engine,result in injury to a workman.

A meritorious feature is that in order to prevent unintentional rotationof the engine-supporting stand, locking mechanism is provided whichautomatically locks the stand at the position to which rotated. Simple,effective lock release means is provided to unlock the same but suchrelease means is operable only when the engine-supporting platformoccupies a substantially horizontal position.

Other objects, advantages, and meritorious features will more fullyappear from the specification, claims, and accompanying drawing,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective of the engine mounting stand taken from thefront;

FIG. 2 is a perspective of the engine mounting stand taken from therear;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 66 of FIG. 3;

3,017,176 Patented Jan. 16, 1962 FIG. 7 is a cross sectional fragmentaryview through the indexing pin operating cable assembly;

FIG. 8 is a view looking at one end of a side rail of the frame showingthe caster and retaining pin construction;

FIG. 9 is a perspective of the indexing pin actuating bracket; and

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic illustration of a hydraulic operatingmechanism.

This engine mounting stand comprises a'frarne having two opposite siderails 20 connected together by a cross piece platform 22. These siderails are of rugged construction and shown as formed of angle sectionsand the platform is a strong channel-shaped section 22 held upon theside rails by brackets 24 which may be welded or bolted thereto as shownin FIGS. 1 and 2.

There is mounted upon the cross piece 22 a pair of spaced-apart uprightchannel-shaped standards 26. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 these standards26 are fixed upon a base plate 28 which plate is shown as fastened bybolts 3%} or the like to the cross piece 22. The standards arethemselves braced apart by cross pieces 32 secured to opposite sides ofthe standards which cross pieces may be welded at their ends to oppositeflanges of the upright standards. These two standards are provided attheir upper ends with frame side plates 34 secured by bolts 36 or thelike to the standards, one to each standard.

The engine mounting platform and the mechanism associated therewithwhereby it is moved from one adjusted angular position to another orrotated about an axis is disposed between these standards 26 and frameplates 34 as hereinafter described. It comprises generally anenginesupporting platform or index plate 38 which is carried by atrunnion plate 40. The trunnion plate 40 is journaled upon complementaryopposed trunnions 42 between the frame side plates 34 to swing about ahorizontal axis, as

shown particularly in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4.

The index plate 38 is rotably supported upon the trunnion plate 40 torotate about an axis which is generally perpendicular to the trunnionplate axis, as shown more specifically in FIG. 3. The mechanism wherebythe trunion plate and index plate are swung as as assembly about thehorizontal axis established by the trunnions 42 and the mechanismwhereby the index plate may be held at rotated positions with respect tothe trunnion plate is hereinafter more particularly described.

The index plate 38 is designed to receive an adapter plate, not shown inthe drawings. Different adapter plates will be provided to suitdifferent makes of engines. The adapter plate may be secured by studs orthe like to the index plate 38. Such studs are receivable within anouter ring of threaded openings 44 formed in and adjacent to theperiphery of the index plate 38. The index plate 38 is secured to thetrunnion plate for rotation by means of. a stub shaft 46 shownparticularly in FIG. 3. The index plate is fastened to the top of thisstub shaft. The stub shaft extends through the trunnion plate asillustrated in FIG. 3. The stub shaft 46 is provided with a series ofstepped shoulders encircled by roller bearing assemblies. There is anupper roller bearing assembly 48 and a lower roller bearing assembly 50.Each of these roller bearing assemblies is mounted within oounterboreswithin the trunnion plate as shown in FIG. 3. Such bearings serve tosupport and position the stub shaft 46 within the trunnion plate forrotation. A pair of nuts 52 and 54 are threaded on the stub shaft asshown in FIG. 3 to retain it in position upon the trunnion plate. A lockwasher 56 is interposed between the nuts as shown.

The index plate 38 is provided with a series of index pin-receivingapertures 58, being shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. Each aperture is fitted witha bearing sleeve 60. An

index pin 62 is mounted within the trunnion plate 48 and isspring-loaded by means of a spring 64 as shown in FIG. 3 so that it isadapted to be automatically projected into any index bearing sleeve 68as the index plate is rotated from one position to another. The springis held in place in the trunnion plate by a nut 66. It is released by amechanism hereinafter described.

The index plate 38 and the trunnion plate 48, which are swingable as anassembly between the side plates 34 upon the trunnions 42, are swung inone direction by the operation of a hydraulic jack. This hydraulic jackassembly is indicated generally by the numeral 68 as shown in FIGS. 3and 5. This hydraulic jack mechanism serves to swing the trunnion plateand the index plate about the trunnions 42 to a horizontal position. Asthe hydraulic pressure is released, the weight of the engine on theindex plate permits the assembly to swing toward a vertical position asshown in FIG. 3. Such return swing under the influence of gravity is dueto the fact that the ram 78 of the hydraulic jack assembly is coupledwith the trunnion plate oli center its pivotal support by the trunnions42 as is apparent from FIGS. 1, 3, 4, and 5.

The hydraulic jack assembly is swung from a bracket 72, which bracket issecured to a cross piece 32 as shown in FIG. 3. The base 74 of the jackhas a web portion 76 which is journaled between a pair of spaced sideplates 78 carried by the bracket 72 upon a shaft 88 as shown in FIG. 3.Rotating rings 82 are mounted upon opposite ends of the shaft inalternate positions.

This base 74 of the hydraulic jack mechanism carries a generallycylindrical hydraulic fluid-containing reservoir 88 supported upon oneend upon the base as shown in FIG. 3. Within this hydraulic reservoir issupported a hydraulic liquid-receiving cylinder 86. Such liquidreceivingcylinder 86 is the ram cylinder. It is not shown in FIG. 3 but FIG. 18is a diagrammatic showing which indicates the functioning. In FIG. thisram cylinder 86 is illustrated for purposes of convenience separate fromthe reservoir 88. In such FIG. 10 the reservoir 88 is shown ascommunicating with the pump 89 by a fluid line 98. The pump 89communicates by a fluid line 92 with the ram cylinder 86. This fluidline 92 is provided with a relief valve 93 whereby the pressure withinthe ram cylinder will not be built up too high. The interior of the ramcylinder has an exhaust fluid line 94 which leads to a valve 96 and fromsuch valve through a fluid line 98 back to the reservoir 88. The valve96 is an exhaust control valve. It may be manipulated to permit fluidfiiiw from the ram cylinder 86 back into the reservdir at such rate asis desired whereby the rate of withdrawal of the ram 78 is controlled.This ram 78 would have a piston 71 mounted thereon and traveling withinthe ram cylinder 86 as shown schematically in FIG. 10.

As heretofore described when the manually operable handle 188 isactuated, the pump piston 182 is reciprocated. The handle is providedwith an arm 184 secured to the outer end of the handle as shownparticularly in FIG. 3. This arm is pivotally supported upon a shaft186. (Note FIGS. 3 and 6.) The shaft 186 is carried by two side plates188, which side plates are bolted to opposite sides 118 of a pumphousing by bolts 112 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. The opposite ends of theshaft 186 carry retaining rings 114 to hold the shat-t in place. The arm184 has an extension beyond the shaft 186 which extension is indicatedas 116 and is shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. This extension has its endbifurcated as at 118 and a pivot pin 128 extends through suchbifurcation as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. The pump piston 182 is coupledwith the arm through this pin 128 by means of a clevis 124. Retainingrings 122 are secured upon opposite ends of the pin as shown in FIG. 6to hold the pin in place. The clevis is oversized the pin so as topermit of play during the operation of the handle.

T e T811178 is cured to the trunnion plate 48 to swing such trunnionplate by means of a trunnion plate block 126 (FIGS. 4 and 5). This blockis secured to the underside of the trunnion plate by studs 128. Theblock is provided with the depending ears 129. The ram 78 has a flattedend portion 138 which is pivoted between these cars 129 upon a pivot pin132. The ends of the pivot pin are provided with retaining rings 134.

The location of this trunnion plate block 126 and the pivot pin 132 isofi center the trunnions 42 of the trunnion plate so that outward thrustexerted by the ram 78 upon the trunnion plate swings the trunnion platetoward a horizontai planar position as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5. Asdescribed in connection with the description of the functioning of thehydraulic mechanism, the trunnion plate and index plate assembly swingsunder the influence of gravity toward the at-rest position as hydraulicpressure is released from the hydraulic cylinder 86 by operation of thecontrol valve 96 and the fluid returned to the reservoir 88.

To control the rotation of the index plate 38 about the shaft 46, theindex pin 62 is normally held by spring 64 to be projected into any oneof the bearing sleeves 68 as shown in FIG. 3. Release mechanism isprovided whereby such pin may be withdrawn from any aperture 58. Suchrelease mechanism can function to withdraw the pin only when the indexplate and trunnion plate occupy a substantially horizontal plane asshown in FIG. 5 as distinguished from the vertical plane as shown inFIG. 3.

This release mechanism comprises a flexible cable 136 to one end ofwhich is secured a handle 138. This cable extends through tube 148. Theend of the cable within the tube carries a slide 142 and the handle isattached to the slide. The outer end of the cable is provided with abutton 144. The cable is provided intermediate its ends with a secondbutton 146. This second button 146 is adapted to prevent the cable frombeing drawn beyond a limited distance through the tube 148 because thebutton 146 comes up against the end of the tube.

The button 144, which is mounted on the outer end of the cable, isadapted, when the cable is withdrawn and the index plate and trunnionplate assembly occupy a horizontal plane to engage the car 148 as shownin FIG. 5. This car 148 is apertured as at 158 to permit slidable travelof the cable 136 therethrough. This car is a part of an index pinactuating lever device shown in FIG. 9 and indicated generally by thenumeral 152. This lever device is U-shaped and has a pair of side walls154 which are apertured as at 156 to be received over opposite ends ofthe pin 132 which extends through the flatted end of the ram. (Note FIG.4). The bottom of this U-shaped lever device 152 is provided with a pairof projecting arms 158 apertured as at 168. A connecting pin 162 extendsthrough index pin 62 and is carried thereby. Opposite ends of pin 162are disposed within the oversize apertures 168 of the arms 158 wherebythese apertured arms 158 when swung by withdrawal of cable 136 withdrawthe end of the index pin 62 from the index plate 38 to permit rotationof the plate as shown in FIG. 5.

When the ram is projected as shown in FIG. 5, and the cable 136 iswithdrawn, the button 144 swings the lever device 152 from the solidline position shown in FIG. 5 to the dotted line position shown in suchfigure and the index pin 62 is withdrawn against the pressure of itsspring 64. When the index plate 38 and the trunnion plate 48 aredisposed in a vertical position as shown in FIG. 3, the end of the cable136 which carries the button 144- is projected sufliciently forwardly ofthe car 158 of the lever device 152 that withdrawal of the cable isinsuflicient to swing the lever device. Furthermore, the disposition ofthe parts is not such as to permit withdrawal of the index pin. Theindex pin may therefore be withdrawn to permit withdrawal of the indexplate only when the index plate is disposed in the horizontal plane.

The index plate 38 may be adjusted to come to rest in a plane which issubstantially horizontal but not strictly so as determined by the manualadjustment of a pair of eccentrics 164 (FIGS. 3, 4, and 5). Theseeccentrics constitute adjustable plate positioning means and are mountedupon studs 166 carried by the side plates 34. These studs are rotatablyadjustable to vary the position of the eccentrics. The eccentricsdetermine the at-rest position of the trunnion plate when the ram isprojected forwardly as shown in FIG. 5.

The entire stand assembly is capable of being moved over the floor uponwhich it is placed. Opposite ends of the side rails 20 are provided withcasters 168, which caster units are secured to opposite ends of the siderails as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 8 by brackets 170. A holding pin 172extends through each side rail at the forward end and is adapted toengage the floor upon which the stand rests to hold it at the positionto which it has been moved.

What I claim is:

1. An engine-mo-unting stand comprising, in combination, a frame, aplatform assembly swingably supported upon the frame upon a horizontalaxis for til-ting movement thereabout from a substantially verticalposition to a substantially horizontal position and vice versa,hydraulic ram mechanism swingably supported upon the frame and includinga ram reciprocable to be projected and withdrawn, said ram pivotallycoupled with the platform assembly to tilt the same from a vertical to ahorizontal position when the ram is projected, adjustable platepositioning means adjustable to determine the precise projectedsubstantially horizontal position of the platform assembly, saidplatform assembly including an enginemounting plate pivotally supportedfor rotation about an axis which is disposed substantially normal withrespect to the horizontal axis upon which the platform assembly isswingably supported, said engine mounting plate pivotal axis carried bythat portion of the platform assembly provided with the horizontal axisupon which the assembly is supported for rotation, a locking pinoperable to engage said engine mounting plate at adjusted positions ofrotation to hold the plate against rotation, actuating means coupledwith the pin to withdraw the same to permit rotation of the plate, saidactuating, means including a cable coupled with the pin and operableupon withdrawal of a determined length of the cable to withdraw the pinto release the plate to rotation when the plate is disposed in saidhorizontal position, said cable adapted when the plate has been tiltedto the vertical position to permit said determined length of cable to beWithdrawn without withdrawing the pin.

2. An engine-mounting stand as defined in claim 1 characterized in thatsaid actuating means which includes the cable also includes a partrockably supported upon the ram and coupled with the pin to withdraw thepin upon determined rockable movement of said part, and wherein saidcable extends slideably through said part and is provided with meansadapted to engage said part and rock the same to withdraw the pin torelease the plate to rotation upon withdrawal of the determined lengthof cable when the plate is disposed in the horizontal position, saidcable being of such a length that said determined length of cable may bewithdrawn through said part without rocking the same to withdraw the pinwhen the plate has been tilted to the vertical position.

3. An engine-mounting stand comprising, in combination, a frame, aplatform assembly swingably supported upon the frame upon a horizontalaxis for reciprocable tilting movement thereabout between asubstantially ver tical position and a substantially horizontalposition, the

horizontal axis of the platform assembly offset toward the frame awayfrom the center of mass of the assembly when the assembly is horizontal,hydraulic ram mechanism swingably supported upon the frame and includinga ram reciprocable to be projected away from the frame and withdrawntoward the frame, said ram pivotally coupled with the platform assemblyoffset the horizontal axis away from the frame when the assembly ishorizontal to tilt the same from a vertical to a horizontal positionwhen the ram is projected and adapted to support the platform assemblyat adjusted tilted positions between the vertical and the horizontal,said platforrn assembly including an engine-mounting plate pivotal-1ysupported for rotation about an axis disposed substantially normal tothe horizontal axis upon which the assembly is swingably supported, saidassembly adapted when the hydraulic pressure on the ram is released toswing from the horizontal toward the vertical position under theinfluence of gravity, locking means operable to releasably secure theplate at adjusted positions of rotation including mechanism coupled withthe ram to be projected and withdrawn therewith and operable to releasethe plate for rotation, said mechanism responsive to the movement of theplate to a substantially vertical position to be shifted to preventplate release movement of said locking means.

4. An engine-mounting stand comprising, in combination, a frame, aplatform assembly swingably supported upon the frame upon a horizontalaxis for reciprocable tilting movement thereabout between asubstantially vertical position and a substantially horizontal position,the horizontal axis of the platform assembly offset toward the frameaway from the center of mass of the assembly when the assembly ishorizontal, hydraulic ram mechanism swingably supported upon the frameand including a ram reciproca-ble to be projected away from the frameand withdrawn toward the frame, and said ram pivotally coupled with theplatform assembly to tilt the same from a vertical to a horizontalposition when the ram is projected, said platform assembly including anengine-mounting plate pivotally supported for rotation about an axisdisposed substantially perpendicularly with respect to the horizontalaxis upon which the assembly is swingably sup ported, said assemblyadapted when the hydraulic pressure on the ram is released to swingunder the influence of gravity from the horizontal to the verticalposition, a spring-pressed locking element normally held to engage theplate at adjusted positions of rotation to secure the the plate againstrotation at such adjusted positions, actuating means coupled with saidlocking element including mechanism pivotally coupled with the outer endof the ram to be projected and withdrawn therewith and swingable from aposition extending forwardly of the ram when the ram is projected to aposition depending below the ram when the ram is withdrawn and operableto Withdraw the locking element to release the plate for rotation onlywhen the ram is in the projected position and said mechanism is swungforwardly thereof and the platform assembly is horizontally disposed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,216,552 Dodge Feb. 20, 1917 2,318,791 Mueller May 11, 1943 2,445,016Bentley July 13, 1948 2,469,644 Harrison May 10, 1949' 2,495,250 GilleyJan. 24, 1950 2,495,438 Bentley Ian. M, 1950 2,523,734 Stephenson et a1Sept. 26, 1950

